The Fly – 1958 – United States
When is a remake better than the original? Well, here is one case. Compared to the 1958 original, The Fly (1986) is a shocking, grotesque, and totally unforgettable tour de force. That being said, the original (which is the subject of this review) is still pretty dang great, and it is quite horrific and gruesome (as far as 50s movies go). Plus, it has Vincent Price in it!
A scientist creates a teleporter. When testing it on himself, his DNA is scrambled with a housefly that flies into the machine with him. The scientist becomes part insect, and he and his wife desperately search for a cure. However, all of that isn’t immediately obvious. The Fly creates a compelling mystery around the scientist’s failed experiment and transformation. The story has a lot of pathos, and ultimately, the humanoid fly is more pitiable than fearsome. In the end, the scientist’s wife helps him commit suicide, which is pretty awful to think about. It’s also really gross because she smashes him into paste using a hydraulic press.
The Fly is really about the danger of heedless technological progress. I’m no Luddite, but in an era of climate change and ubiquitous surveillance, this message still rings true. Another major theme is the scientist’s loss of reason and humanity as he becomes more insect-like. The humanoid insect makeup is simple but effective, and his twitching mouth-feelers are pretty creepy.
Although The Fly is an American movie, for no apparent reason, it is set in Canada and a bunch of the actors use fake French accents.
Rating: 7/10 Shrunken Heads. Vincent Price isn’t actually the star of this movie.
Happy Halloween!
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